Category Archives: Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite

Hercules

On this complex “Rose Croix d’Heredom dit de Kilwinning” (‘Rose Cross of Heredom and Kilwinning’) tracing board, we see an enormous naked man (bottom right) with his legs on either side of a water. A ship is sailing through his legs. I think this is a reference to (the strait of) Hercules (later strait of Gibraltar). I haven’t found the ritual significance yet.

BnF Smith-Lesouëf 126

J M B

The (proto) Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite degree “Maitre Parfait” (‘perfect master’) often has a pyramid on the tracing board. Sometimes the pyramid has the letters “M B” on it, the 3rd degree word. Sometimes the letter is “L“, but I also ran into “J M B” standing for “Jacobus Molay Burgondi”, Jacques de Molay from Bourgogne.

Thuileur 1 – 333 Pascal Barbier

I V I L

The Grand Treasurer representing Guibelum, who was the first depositer of the precious Treasure of Masons, decorated with a small key to a narrow white ribbon, to wear to the 5th Button hole of his Jacket, with the letters I. V. I. L. which are the Initials of Inveni verbum in ore Lionis.

Francken Manuscript 13th degree.

Image self created

I M B

At the Expiration of the 9 days, the heart was embalmed and deposited in the obelisk, and with a Triangular Stone on which was engraved in hebrew the Letters IMD, the I being the Initial of the antient masters word and the M.B. the Initials of the new word

Thus says the 5th degree (“Perfect Master”) in the Francken Manuscript.

Image self created

Yad

I have a French tracing board for the fourth degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (“Secret Master”) which has a hand on a stick on it. The image reminds of a “Yad”, a Jewish pointing stick for when reading the Torah, but a “Yad” has an index finger pointing and here we have a hand that seems to refer to the sign of the degree. I know no fourth degree texts with which either a “Yad” or a “pointing hand” has a role. But if it only an allusion to the sign, why put it on a stick…?

Thuileur Rite Écossais Ancien et Accepté (2022) Pascal Barbier